Observer-Reporter Athlete of the Week
Name: Madison Kerr
School: Peters Township
Year: Senior
Sport: Basketball
Kerr’s week: The Indians’ senior guard scored 17 points in each of Peters Township’s wins, including a 71-49 victory over Moon in a Section 4-AAAA game last Monday. Two days later, she helped the Indians beat West Mifflin 68-14.
In both wins, Peters Township (3-1, 9-1), which is in second place in the section, was impressive on defense and Kerr had much to do with the success.
Moon had 25 turnovers and West Mifflin was held to just two field goals with only four second-half points.
“Our defense has improved dramatically,” Kerr said. “We’re one of the fastest teams; our speed, our trapping ability, our intensity – it’s pretty hard to compete against that. We’re working really well together.”
Getting a jump: After last season, when Kerr averaged 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks per game, she worked to become a more well-rounded player. The focus wasn’t necessarily offense. Sure, she spent every day in the summer working on her shot and perfecting ball handling to create open looks. But her emphasis was on jumping.
The 5-8, four-year starter wanted to grab more rebounds. Combine those drills on her vertical leap with head coach Bert Kendall’s offseason strength program and the result has been eye-opening.
Along with her 15.7 points per game this season, Kerr is averaging 10 rebounds. With a sense of reckless abandon, she’s helping the Indians secure second chances and they are capitalizing. Being a standout volleyball player hasn’t hurt either.
“She’s become a complete player,” Kendall said. “She likes to get in there and she figured it out. You crash the boards, you get some putbacks and it’s leading by example. Our goal as a team was to outrebound every opponent and she’s taken that to heart.
“The other kids know that if one of our leading rebounders is a guard that everyone else can follow suit.”
It also helps that Peters Township’s leading rebounder can make a quick outlet pass that turns into points in transition. The Indians are averaging 62.2 ppg (fourth in Class AAAA) and are allowing just 38.3
They were ranked fifth in PIAA Class AAAA by PennLive.com – three years after finishing winless in section play and 3-19 overall.
“My freshman year was very humbling,” Kerr said. “I think we won three games, but it’s been nice this year. We finally have it all together. We’ve been climbing the ladder and working on everything really hard. I really love my teammates. It’s a cohesive unit and we all get along really well. It’s been really fun this year.”
Future Crimson Hawk: Kerr, a two-time selection to the Observer-Reporter’s All-District first team, had a decision to make regarding where to continue her career after Peters Township.
It came down to coaching, a school’s nursing program and the opportunity to compete for a national championship. Ultimately, she chose Indiana University of Pennsylvania, but until she competes in the PSAC, Kerr is focused on helping the Indians reach the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2011.
Defeating Mt. Lebanon for the first time since 2007 has Kerr and Peters Township thinking big this season.
“The win against (Mt. Lebanon) was huge,” Kerr said. “That showed that we can really compete with anyone.”
Compiled by Lance Lysowski